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      Romelu Lukaku left Inter Milan to DOUBLE salary at Chelsea but free-transfer Dzeko has filled gap, says club chief

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      CHELSEA doubled Romelu Lukaku’s salary when they secured his return to the club in the summer, according to an Inter Milan chief.The 28-year-old Belgian fired the Serie A giants to their first title in more than a decade earlier this year but then left to rejoin Thomas Tuchel’s men for a club record fee of £97.5million.
      Lukaku rejoined Chelsea in the summer seven years after leaving Stamford BridgeCredit: Rex
      Dzeko swapped Roma for Inter Milan before the 2021-22 seasonCredit: Getty
      Lukaku cited unfinished business as the reason for a second spell with Chelsea, where he failed to score in 10 appearances during his first stint.
      But Inter CEO Beppe Marotta insists the financial upside was the main driving force behind the striker’s decision to leave Inter.
      He told Corriere della Sera: “Lukaku left to double his salary, in Italy these figures can’t exist.”
      SunSport understands Lukaku is now on £325,000 a week, making him the club’s highest earner.
      The Serie A winner is thought to be on £15,000 more than Chelsea’s next best-paid player Kai Havertz.
      Meanwhile, Inter replaced Lukaku with former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

      They were able to secure the Bosnian striker on a free transfer after his contract came to an end with fellow Italian side Roma.
      And he has hit the ground running at the San Siro, netting six goals in eight Serie A appearances so far.
      “Lukaku was sold for £97.5m and we bought Dzeko for free. On the pitch, there isn’t much difference,” Marotta added.
      Lukaku limped off during Chelsea’s victory over Malmo in the Champions League on Tuesday.
      And he is now set to be on the sidelines for up to a month, with teammate Timo Werner also suffering a knock.
      Former Chelsea man Joe Cole has now called on Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi to step up and fill Lukaku’s shoes.

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      Here are the top earners in Chelsea’s current squad
      Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “Tuchel said that they’ve won matches without Timo and Romelu.
      “Players like Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi, they’ve come on tonight, they impacted the game, can they do that again on Saturday?
      “All of a sudden you’re looking round and you can wait for Timo to get back, the manager’s not driving the physio mad by asking when’s he back, because you’re winning games and players are stepping up.” More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘broke Juventus’ sacred law and split dressing room’ as former team-mates turn against Man Utd star

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO failed to adhere to Juventus’ core values during his three years with the club, according to reports.The Portuguese forward was prolific in Italy, scoring 101 goals for the Old Lady.
      Cristiano Ronaldo has been talked about by his former Juve team-mates this weekCredit: Getty
      Chiellini and Bonucci have lifted the lid on Ronaldo’s influence at JuveCredit: Rex
      But a damning report claims that Ronaldo spoiled the unity of the squad by being treated differently.
      According to Tuttosport, CR7 ‘crumbled’ the most important values of the Juve dressing room.
      They claim that the Italian giants value ‘equality, unity and humility’.
      But Ronaldo spoiled those values, inevitably having a ripple effect on Juventus’ tight-knit squad.
      The club’s previous big names forwards including the likes of Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain adhered to the laws of the dressing room, also putting in hard work defensively for the team.
      But Ronaldo reportedly played by different rules and ‘was never part of the pack’.

      A misplaced pass would often prompts complaints from the former Real Madrid star – which again goes against Juventus’ dressing room rules.
      While Ronaldo was prolific himself, Juve’s Champions League performances deteriorated during his time with the club.
      And experienced defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have both hinted that they are glad that he has now left.
      Chiellini, 37, told DAZN: “Ronaldo left on August 28, it would have been better for us if he had left earlier.
      “It was not a difficult thing to digest, but it gives you a bit of a surprise and, in my opinion, we paid something in terms of points in the first matches.
      “If he had left on August 1, we would have had time to prepare better and we would have come to the start of the championship a little more prepared.”
      While Bonucci, 34, told The Athletic: “This was the thing, the idea that one player, even the best in the world, could guarantee Juventus victory.
      “Cristiano’s presence had a big influence on us. Just training with him gave us something extra but subconsciously players started to think his presence alone was enough to win games.
      “We began to fall a little short in our daily work, the humility, the sacrifice, the desire to be there for your team-mate day after day. Over the last few years, I think you could see that.”
      Cristiano Ronaldo gives brilliant reaction after reporter tells him ‘you did it again’ following Man Utd More

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      Chelsea set to snub Saul Niguez transfer after flop loan and target Marcelo Brozovic instead

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      CHELSEA have ‘no intention’ of making Saul Niguez’s loan move a permanent one and are instead exploring different targets for next summer. Saul signed late on transfer deadline day, with the Blues having the option to sign the 26-year-old permanently at the end of the season.
      Saul has struggled to make an impact since joining from Atletico MadridCredit: Getty
      And has started the last five Premier League games on the benchCredit: Getty
      But after playing just 146 minutes of football so far, Thomas Tuchel is now eyeing a move for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, according to La Razon.
      Saul’s lack of playing time means ‘everything indicates’ he will be heading back to the Wanda Metropolitano in the summer.
      The 19-cap Spain international joined the Blues in a bid for more first team football, but has had limited opportunities at Stamford Bridge.
      He made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa on September 11, but was hauled off at half time after a torrid 45 minutes.
      The midfielder then played 76 minutes in the Carabao Cup clash against Aston Villa later that month, and came off the bench against Malmo in midweek.
      Saul’s return to Madrid will allow the Blues to press on with a deal for Croatian international Brozovic.

      The 28-year-old is out of contract with the Serie A champions in the summer.
      He is in talks with the San Siro side regarding a new deal but could be tempted by a move to the Premier League.
      The Blues are said to be monitoring negotiations between Brozovic and the Nerazzurri, and are ready to swoop in with a ‘hefty package.’
      The Serie A side are said to be short of cash despite selling Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi in the summer.
      It means they could be priced out of Brozovic’s £100,000-a-week wage demands.
      The Blues were previously linked with a move for Brozovic in 2016, but he decided to pen a new long-term deal at San Siro.
      Newcastle and PSG are also rumoured to be interested in a move for the Inter midfielder. More

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      Mourinho suffers heaviest EVER defeat as Roma thumped 6-1 by Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in Europa Conference shocker

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      JOSE MOURINHO lashed out at the state of his Roma squad after suffering the heaviest defeat of his managerial career.The Serie A side were embarrassed 6-1 by Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in Thursday’s Uefa Conference League clash.
      Roma were thrashed 6-1 away against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Uefa Conference LeagueCredit: Getty
      Is it the first time Jose Mourinho has conceded six goals in a single matchCredit: Getty
      It was the first time a team coached by the Special One has shipped in six goals in a single game.
      A stat made even more staggering considering that was the 58-year-old’s 1008th match of his career.
      His previous biggest loss was Real Madrid’s 5-0 mauling at the hands of rivals Barcelona in November 2010.
      While his Chelsea side were hit for five in the 5-3 loss against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in January 2015.
      But today’s result in Europe’s third-tier competition will undoubtedly be one of the most embarrassing moments of his career.
      Speaking after the match, Mourinho said: “I decided to play with this line-up, so the responsibility is mine.

      “I did it with good intentions, to give an opportunity to those who work hard and to rotate the squad on a synthetic pitch in cold weather. I decided to rest many players.
      “We lost against a team that showed more quality on the night. It’s that simple.”
      Before adding: “Every defeat does damage. I spoke to the players and was honest. I was honest with them, I cannot be honest with you.
      “I never disguised the fact we were a squad with real limitations. We have 13 players who represent one team, the others are on a different level.
      “At least the positive thing from now on is that nobody will ask me why I always use the same players.”
      Roma, who had won both of their Conference League outings prior to their trip to Norway, now sit second to Bodo/Glimt in Group C.
      The Giallorossi went 1-0 down in the eighth minute after Erik Botheim opened the scoring, before Patrick Berg doubled the hosts’ lead shortly after.
      Carlos Perez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 28th minute to give Roma hope of completing a comeback in the second half.
      Roma now sit second in Group C following the embarrassing defeat at the Aspmyra StadionCredit: Getty
      But their hopes were quickly dashed after Botheim banged in his second of the match shortly after the break, with Ola Solbakken firing home a fourth in the 71st minute.
      It was 5-1 seven minutes later when Amahl Pellegrino got on the score sheet, before Solbakken grabbed his second moment later.
      In an unwanted stat, Roma’s defeat against last season’s Norwegian top-flight champions is the club’s joint-second biggest defeat in Europe.
      The result matches their 6-1 loss against Barcelona from 2015, with Manchester United’s 7-1 win in April 2007 remaining their heaviest.
      And it is the only the second time a Norwegian team have scored three or more goals against an Italian opponent in a European competition.
      Bodo/Glimt previously beat Sampdoria 3-2 in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1994-95 season.
      Danny Mills urges Newcastle to poach Jose Mourinho from Roma More

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      Chiellini wishes Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus SOONER as he joins Bonucci in hitting out at Man Utd star

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      GIORGIO CHIELLINI has criticised the timing of Cristiano Ronaldo’s high profile Juventus exit.And the veteran Juve captain, 37, blames the Portugal skipper’s late Manchester United move for his side’s poor start to the season.
      Giorgio Chiellini believes it would have been better for Juventus if Cristiano Ronaldo had left early on in the summerCredit: AFP or licensors
      Ronaldo, 36, finished last term as Serie A’s top scorer with 29 goals before sealing a sensational August return to Old Trafford on a two-year deal.
      And the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s exit has left a void up top for Juve, who are currently seventh after losing two and drawing two of their first eight Serie A games.
      In a DAZN interview, Chiellini said: “Ronaldo left on August 28, it would have been better for us if he had left earlier. 
      “It was not a difficult thing to digest, but it gives you a bit of a surprise and, in my opinion, we paid something in terms of points in the first matches. 
      “If he had left on August 1, we would have had time to prepare better and we would have come to the start of the championship a little more prepared”.
      Ronaldo enjoyed trophy success with Juventus during his three-year spell at the club, including two Serie A titles in 2019 and 2020 and two Italian Super Cups.

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      However, in April reports in Italy claimed the Portugal star had grown ‘nervous and irritable’ with the club’s lack of progress in the Champions League during his time there.
      Earlier this week Chiellini’s club and country team-mate Leonardo Bonucci took a dig at the superstar forward.
      The defender told reporters via Football Italia that the Turin juggernauts needed to “rediscover that Juve spirit that was there before his (Ronaldo’s) arrival”.
      And Chiellini admitted to not being surprised by the former Real Madrid star’s departure.
      The Azzurri skipper added: “He had reached a point in the relationship where Cristiano needed new encouragement and a team that could play for him because when he finds a team like this it is decisive.
      “It does not surprise me because it has shown throughout his career and also in the three years with us. ”
      While Chiellini believes Ronaldo staying would have been a boost for the Turin giants, he reckons a move to a side that is not in transition would be beneficial for the star.
      The centre-back said: “A rejuvenation and restart programme is underway here at Juventus. 
      “It is clear that if Ronaldo had stayed, it would have been an added value and we would have gladly exploited it, but it could also be that he decided to start with a team more focused on the present than on the future. ”

      Chiellini believes Ronaldo was after new motivation and working with team-mates who would play for himCredit: Sportphoto24/Marco Canoniero
      Watch Italy and Juventus goalkeeper legend Gianluigi Buffon prove he is also the GOAT of Rock, Paper, Scissors at Parma More

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      Bonucci fires dig at Cristiano Ronaldo and says Juventus are more of a team and have ‘humility’ without Man Utd star

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      ITALIAN EURO 2020-winning defender Leonardo Bonucci took a dig at former Juventus team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Zenit Saint Petersburg.The Old Lady sit top of their Champions League group on nine points, three ahead of defending European champions Chelsea.
      Five-time UCL winner Ronaldo was unable to bring the famous trophy to TurinCredit: GETTY IMAGES
      And Juve are looking more fluent than they were when Ronaldo was playing in Turin.
      Ronaldo was brought into Juve to win them the elusive Champions League trophy that they had been longing for.
      But Juve bailed out of the competition early, twice failing make it past the Round of 16.
      Speaking to Sky after yesterday’s group game win, Bonucci took aim at the Manchester United star.
      He said: “It’s absolutely true [playing more as a team].
      “In the recent past we had lost this characteristic from Juve, we were playing with a great champion like CR7 and we wanted to put him in a position to always do well, thinking he could solve all the matches.

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      “This year we are rediscovering that right humility that it serves to regain victory.”
      Bonucci’s latest comments come after an interview he did with The Athletic where he described how the atmosphere of the dressing room effected the performance on the pitch.
      The 34-year-old said: “This was the thing, the idea that one player, even the best in the world, could guarantee Juventus victory.
      “Cristiano’s presence had a big influence on us. Just training with him gave us something extra but subconsciously players started to think his presence alone was enough to win games.

      “We began to fall a little short in our daily work, the humility, the sacrifice, the desire to be there for your team-mate day after day. Over the last few years, I think you could see that.”
      Juve and Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini also took a dig at Ronaldo after he left to return to Man Utd.
      The experienced defender said the team had ‘to play for him’.
      Chiellini told DAZN: “When you have a world class player like Cristiano, you cannot help but use the team to play for him.
      “We must be grateful to Cristiano for all he did during these years at Juventus, but we carry on.
      “This will be Paulo Dybala’s team. Over the last couple of years, he lowered his average goals because of Cristiano’s presence, but he is a key player for this team and that is recognised by everyone.”
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Solskjaer hits back at Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd critics More

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      Atalanta stars woken up SIX times by fire alarms on night before Man Utd clash as Wag fumes at ‘terrible locals’

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      ATALANTA’S stars were woken up by fire alarms SIX times as they stayed in Manchester ahead of their Champions League clash with Man Utd on Wednesday.And one Wag took to social media to point the finger at ‘terrible locals’.
      Atalanta stars including Ruslan Malinovskiy were woken up six times by fire alarms in Manchester ahead of their Champions League game at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      Malinovsky’s wife Roksana took to social media to point the finger at ‘terrible locals’
      Roksana Malinovskiy, wife of Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskiy, appeared to encourage Atalanta fans to subject United’s players to the same treatment when they travel to Italy at the beginning of next month.
      One hotel guest reported hearing alarms at 4:51am, 5am, 5:36am, 6:11am, 6:31am and 7:13am at Atalanta’s Radisson Edwardian hotel base in Manchester on Wednesday morning.
      Gian Piero Gasperini, his staff and players were disturbed by the noise.
      And Roksana wrote: “Hellish night in Manchester.
      “Throughout the night in the hotel the fire alarm was turned on at full power five times.
      “It happened just when the team arrived, and only at night!

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      “Do you think this is an accident? I don’t.
      “Such a ‘warm’ welcome from the local population. Terrible.
      “I hope that our fans will support the team in our home game, and maybe the same thing will suddenly happen in an Italian hotel.”
      Man Utd’s stars arrived at the Hyatt Hotel in Manchester on Wednesday afternoon.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford

      United host the Serie A side at Old Trafford and are looking to restore some confidence after a turbulent start that has seen them lose to Young Boys away and snatch a last-gasp victory over Villarreal at home.
      The likes of Harry Maguire, Cristiano Ronaldo and Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were pictured making their way to the hotel ahead of a rough schedule.
      SunSport also explored how United might line-up for the fixture with Marcus Rashford likely to start after his shoulder injury.

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      Schmeichel says Sancho will come good at Man Utd but must look at Ronaldo for inspiration More

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      Lazio’s Felipe leaves pitch in tears after sparking brawl by jumping on Inter ace and former team-mate to celebrate win

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      LAZIO star Luiz Felipe said sorry after jumping on an opponent’s back and sparking a mass brawl before leaving the field in tears.The Brazilian defender was sent off for leaping on Inter striker Joaquin Correa’s shoulders during the Serie A clash.
      Luiz Felipe apologised for his red card after Lazio’s win over Inter
      He jumped on Joaquin Correa’s back to celebrate Lazio’s winCredit: Getty
      And that incident led to a brawl between the two sets of players at the end of Lazio’s 3-1 win over Inter Milan.
      Felipe left the pitch in tears after the flashpoint with his ‘friend’ Correa and the red card.
      Correa, on loan at Inter Milan from Lazio, was furious with the Brazilian centre-back after the heated clash.
      But Felipe apologised for his actions and to Inter forward Correa on social media.
      He wrote on Instagram: “First of all, I want to clarify that I have great respect for Inter… We are all professionals, working to pursue our goals, and would never fail to respect another professional.
      “At the end of the game I jumped on Tucu’s shoulders because he is one of the great friends that football has given me.
      “Our families are friends and we have always been very close… I wanted to hug him and joke about the result, as far as our friendship allows, but I got excited.
      “Perhaps, in retrospect, it was not the best time or the most suitable place.
      “I apologise to anyone who felt offended and I did not try, in any way, to be disrespectful towards him, towards other athletes or towards Internazionale and its passionate fans. It was an innocent act, by a person who has a great affection for Tucu!!”

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      Lazio moved into fifth place and within three points of third-placed Inter with the win.
      Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Sergei Milinkovic-Savic scored second-half goals as they came from behind to beat Inter.
      Napoli lead the way in Serie A having won all of their eight games to start the campaign. More